Method of inserting single sheets into folded sheets and apparatus for performing the same



July 7, 1953 H. DANN v 6 2,644,686

METHOD OF INSERTING SINGLE SHEETS INTO FOLDED SHEETS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME Filed March 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet;

INVENTOR. HERMAN 'DANN ATTORNEY July 7, 1953 2,644,686

H; DANN METHOD OF INSERTING SINGLE SHEETS INTO FOLDED SHEETS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME Filed March 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 59 INVENTOR.

Ht'RMAN DANN fa. BY

ATTORNE y July 7, 1953 H. DANN 2,644,686

METHOD OF INSERTING SINGLE SHEETS INTO FOLDED SHEETS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME Filed March 17, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HERMAN 'DANN ATTORN E Y July 7, 1953 v DANN Q 2,644,686

METHOD OF INSERTING SINGLE SHEETS TO FOLDED I SHEETS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMI G THE SAME Filed March 17, 1952 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVHVTOR. HERMAN DANN ATTORNEY July 7, 1953 H. DAMN 2,644,686

METHOD OF INSERTING SINGLE SHEETS INTO FOLDED SHEETS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME Filed March 1'7, 1952 me v lEi-1S I 425 42a {2/- v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 L I {2s z & 1/5 6 F. :llE-

INVENTOR. 1

HERMAN DQNN QTTORNE Y Patented July 7, 1953 UNI TE'D; ES F F ICE METHOD OF'INSE'RTING SINGLE INTO FOLDED SHEETS AND APPARATUS THE SAME I .Her nan'Dann, Brooklyn, Application March 17, 1952', SerialNo.27-7,,01-6

This invention relates to the imethod of inserting a single sheet into "a folded sheet rand the apparatus f or performing the/same.

In "the process of preparing printed material it frequently becomes necessary to insert 'a single sheet withina folded-sheet. Heretofore .thisgpro'cess has either "been .done by .hand, which with the present high cost of printing labor has been most unsatisfactory, or :has been performed by complicated. and cumbersome machinery, which has been extremely costly, has nperated'at .aslow speed, and has been ivory-apt to go out .of order.

It is an object of this invention to produce a method of inserting-a single sheet into a folded sheet which will :be simple and which will be slow in cost.

:It is a further .objectof this invention :toiproduce an apparatus iforrperforming the above method which will be relatively :rapidtin operation.

Briefly stated the invention embodies the method of inserting a :single sheet :into a .:folded sheet which comprises placing the single sheet behind the folded sheet,'.raising the upper :side of the vfolded sheet, i in'serting the :single1sheet between the upper :andlower :sides of the lfolded sheet, and thence lowering the upperside of the folded sheet. The folded sheet, which now has the single sheet inserted in.it,:may then be conveyed to an appropriate receptacle.

The method is preferably performed with a series of :single and folded sheets, so that a number of single :sheets can be inserted, one .:by one, into each of a number of. folded sheets.

The tmethod may also :include means for placing a number of single sheets and :a-number :of folded sheets into respective piles, and means for equalizing the heights of said piles.

The invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification and which show I one form of the apparatus which may be used to carry out this invention. .It is pointed out, however, that various changes and modifications of this invention can obviously be made within its spirit and scope and will occur to those skilled inthis art.

Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of the apparatus which may be used to carry out this invention with the suction 'Clltr-Ofi device and the lines used in the same'omitted'for :clarity of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the form of the "apparatus showninFig. 1. V I

Fig. 3 is a side view .of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 showing the other side of the device.

6 Claims, (01. 25-70-557.)

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus takenon lines 4'4 of Fig. 3. 1

Fig. -5 is -a sectional yiew of the timing con-- trol used in this invention taken on lines -5'5 of Fig. 1

Fig. 6 is asect'ional view of the means used to adjust the size of the receptacle for fol-ded sheets of the apparatus shown in Fig. "-1 taken on lines 6-6 of'Fig. 3. l V

Fig. 7 is a sectional :viewshoWing-details of the portion of the apparatus used to insert the single sheet into the folded sheettaken on lines 'I-'-1-of Fig.1.

Fig. 8 is '.a sectional View showing further :details of the apparatus used to insert the single sheet into the folded .sheet itaken on lines 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional :view showing sfurther details of the means used to adjust the :size of the receptacle for'ifolded sheets to the size .of the folded sheets t be usedzin :the apparatus taken on lines 9-9 of Fig. 3.

10-13 show the various ."steps :and-movements of the apparatus .shown in Fig. .1 :in the process of inserting a single :sheet into a ifolded sheet.

Fig. 1411's a side view identical withFig. .1 but showing the suction cut-tofi which 'were omitted from Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is "a detail view showing the .method of operation of the suction cut :ofi -means.

.Fig. 161s a rleta'ilview of the suction :pipe used in this imtention.

Referring now to specific form of the invention in the drawings, there are :provided receptacle ID for single sheets and :receptacle :H *for folded sheets. Receptacle 1 0' is located v:to the :rear :of :receptacle 1 I. It must be understood :that the terms behind, ffrorrtf and frear':as used in this specification :-relate to the direction which the single and folded sheets travel the apparatus used :to carry out this'rinvention and noeotherimeaning of the terms isintended.

Receptacles Jill and ".H are designed to hold a number of single sheets :l2 and folded :sheets 13, these sheets being :piled "on top of each gather in a1flat position the respective receptacles and the :fold "M or the folded sheet lies to "the rear of receptacle 1H Receptacles :HI and 2| l are adjustable in height by means :of the raising and lowering of base portions 15 and ;l=.6 of "receptacles :Hland H by means :of handles :(not shown) control gears (not shown) which gears are secured to chain drives (not shown) which chain drives which bears gear 2| and bevel gear 22. Gear 2| drives intermediate gear 23 which in turn drives gear 24. Gear 24 is secured to shaft 25 which in turn drives feed roller 20.

Bevel gear 22 is driven by bevel gear 26 which is secured to shaft 21. Shaft 21 also bears bevel gear 28. Bevel gear 28 is driven by bevel gear 29 which in turn is secured to shaft 30. Shaft 30 drives feed roller 3I. Shaft 30 also bears gear 32 which drives intermediate gear 33. Intermediate gear 33 drives gear 34 which is secured to shaft 35. Shaft 35 drives feed roller-36.

Shaft 30 also bears pulley 31. Pulley 31 carries belt 38 which is also secured to pulley 39. Pulley 39 is secured to shaft 40. Shaft 40 also bears sprocket II which bears chain 42. Chain 42 also meshes with sprocket 43 which is secured to shaft 44. Shaft 44 also bears eccentrics 45 and 46 which control the timing of this device as will be subsequently explained.

Shaft 40 also bears flywheel 41 which, bears belt 48. Belt 48 is secured to pulley 49 which in turn is secured to motor 50. Motor 50 is secured to the base 51 of this device by means of screws 52.

In order to secure better contact of sheets I2 and I3 with rollers I9, 20, 3| and 36 additional free moving rollers 53 and 54 are provided over feed rollers I9 and 20 and additional roller 55 is provided over feed roller 36. These free moving rollers are driven by contact with the driven rollers.

In the operation of this apparatus it is highly desirable, as will be subsequently shown, to adjust the size of the receptacle for the folded sheets to the size of the folded sheets used. For this reason pillar 56 is made moveable. and is capable of sliding on rails 51 and 58. Lock 59 is provided to hold pillar 56 in position after it is adjusted to the point desired. Lever 60 is used to control the position of pillar 56. Lever 60 is pivoted to the base of the machine and is also connected to arm 6| which is in turn secured to arm 62 which in turn is secured to pillar 56.

The specific operation of this device will now be explained.

Moveable suction feet 63 are disposed above receptacle I0 for single sheets. In the preferred modification three of these devices are set up alongside each other. Additional moveable suction feet 64 are disposed above receptacle II for folded sheets. In the preferred modification two of these devices 64 are set up alongside each other. Suction feet 83 are secured to pipe members 65 by clamp members 66. Clamp members 66 are secured to shaft 61.

Suction feet 64 are secured to pipe members 68 by clamp members 69 which are in turn secured to shaft member I0. Shaft members 61 and 10 are designed to move suction feet 63 and 64 upwardly, downwardly and laterally as will be subsequently shown. The upward and downward movements of suction feet 63 and 64 are identical since they are controlled by the same timing device as will be now shown.

Arm 'II is secured to shaft 61, arm II is also secured to arm I2 by pin I3. Arm I2 is secured to arm 15 by pin I4. Arm I5 is controlled by cam I6 which is secured to shaft 11.

Shaft 'I'I also bears cam I8 which controls arm I9 which is secured to arm by pin 8|. Arm 80 is also secured to arm 82 by pin 83. Arm 82 is secured to arm II by pin 84. Spring 84 is secured to pillar 56 and arm 19.

Shaft 11 also bears arm 85 which turns with shaft 11. Arm 85 is secured to arm 86 by pin 81. Arm 81. is secured to shaft member I0 and is also adapted to ride in recess 88 provided in guide 89. It is pointed out that guide 89 is preferably ofiset so that suction feet 64 will not rise directly vertically.

Shaft I1 is also secured to arm 90. Arm 90 is secured to arm 9I by pin 92. Arm 9| rides on the circumference of eccentric 46. Eccentric 45 has arm 93 riding upon its circumference. Arm 93 is secured to arm 94 bypin 95. Arm 94 is also secured to shaft 96 which bears cams 91 and 98. Cam 9'! controls arm 99 which is secured to arm I00 by pin IOI. Arm I00 is secured to arm I02 by pin I03. Arm I02 is secured to arm I05 by pin I04. Arm I05 is secured to shaft I06 which bears moveable suction feet I08 which are secured to shaft I06 by clamps I09. Clamps I09 also secure pipe members I I0 to suction feet I08.

In the preferred modification two of these suctionfeet I08 are provided.

Arm I05 is also securedto arm III which is controlled by cam 98. s

In the operation of the modification of the device shown using suction feeding it is desirable to cut the suction off when the moveable suction feet reach a point about from the top of their stroke. For this reason shaft 11 bears arm 2 which controls arm II3. Arm H3 is secured to arm II4 which in turn is secured to arm II5. Arm II5 controls door H6. Door II6, when it is open, breaks the suction to suction feet 63 and 64.

Shaft 96 also bears arm III which is in turn secured to arm II8. Arm H8 is secured to arm H9 which in turn is secured to door I20. Door I20, when it is. open, breaks the suction to suetion feet I08.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 also show details of the means used to produce suction and air blast (when used) in this device. Motor I2I drives pump I22 which as both blower and suction ends I23 and I24. Pipes I25 and I26 are secured to the suction end I24 of pump I22. Pipes I25 and I 26 after being secured to braking devices as were previously explained are secured to suction feet 63, 64and I08.

With the description of the parts and functions thereof of they apparatus its operation can be easily understood.

Receptacle I0 is filled with single sheets and receptacle II is filled with folded sheets. The folded sheets are set so that the folds thereof are. to the front of the receptacle so that the folded sheets are capable of'opening forwardly. Pillar. 56 is moved along rails 51 and 58 until the size of receptacle II is equal to the size of the folded sheets used. Look 59 is then applied to hold pillar 56 in place.

Motor 50 is then turned on. Motor I2I controlling the suctionfeeds is then turned on but doors H6 and I20are kept open. The heights of the piles of single and folded sheets are then equalized.

Door H6 is then closed manually and door I20 is kept open until .the first single sheet is inserted into the first folded-sheet. As soon as that happens .door :20 .is closed and the subsequent opening .and closing vof doors H15 and 12.0 are controlled by the mechanism previously shown.

It can thus :be easily .seen that "the use of this apparatus causes the single sheet to :be picked by :suction feet '53, moved upwardly by the upward movement of the suction feet and carried over :the feed rollers. At the same time suction feet 64 pickup one side .of the folded sheet and :move it upwardly so that the single sheet .can :be inserted. After this is done the side of the folded sheet raised is permitted to :drop and the folded sheet, which now has the single sheet sinserted into it, is picked up :by suction feet H18 and carried to receptacle 150. The process is then repeated.

As the pile of single and folded sheets 2-becom'es lower the bottom portions I and 16 .ofsreceptacles I10 and H are raised.

This is done by the conventional pile height controls used in suction feeders. Since these devices are well known in the art they havenot been put into the drawings of this specification. However, as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 1'2, and 13 pile heightguide 51 lies .on the topof the pile of sheets. When the pile is below a predetermined height, pile height guide l5] drops and controls gear and chain drives which raise the level of bottom portions I5 and 16 of receptacles Ill and II.

I claim:

1. A device for inserting a number of single sheets into a number of folded sheets comprising a receptacle for the single sheets, a .feed'roll couple positioned forwardly'of said receptacle for single sheets, a receptacle for folded sheets positioned forwardly of said feed rollcouple, the topmost folded sheet disposed in said receptacle bein positioned below a portion of the circumference of one of said feed rolls, an additional feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for folded sheets, suction means located above said receptacle for single sheets, additional suction means located above said receptacle for folded sheets, arm members adapted to raise said suction means simultaneously, said arm members being actuated by the same timing mechanism so that the movement of said suction means is adapted to carry one of the single sheets at a time over said first-named feed roll couple and simultaneously to raise one side of one of said folded sheets so that one of said single sheets is inserted between the fold of one of said folded sheets, further suction means adapted to convey said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets over said additional feed roll couple, an additional receptacle adapted to hold said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets positioned forwardly of said additional feed roll couple, means driving said first-named feed roll couple and said additional feed roll couple, and means driving said suction means.

2. A device for inserting a number of single sheets into a number of folded sheets comprising a receptacle for the single sheets, a feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for single sheets, a receptacle for folded sheets positioned forwardly of said feed roll couple, the topmost folded sheet disposed in said receptacle bein positioned below a portion of the circumference of one of said feed rolls, means for adjusting the heights of said receptacle for single sheets and said receptacle for folded sheets, an

6 additional feed roll couple positioned forwardly-of said receptacle for folded sheets suction means located above said receptacle for single sheets, additional :suction means located above said re ceptacle for folded sheets, arm members adapted to raise sa'id suction :means simultaneously, Esaid arm members being actuated by the-same timing mechanism so that the movement of said suction ineansiis adapted to carry one of the single sheets at a time over said tfirst named feed roll couple and simultaneously to raise one side of one of said folded sheets so that oneof saidsingle'sheets is inserted between the fold of one of :said folded sheets,;further suction means adapted to convey said .lfolded sheets after insertion of said single sheets :o-ver additional :feed roll-hoopla, an additional receptacle adapted to hold said folded sheets after insertion .of said single sheets positioned forwardly of said additional feed roll couple, means driving said first-named feed roll couple and :said additional feed roll couple, and means driving :salid suction means.

3. A device for inserting a number of single sheets into 1a number-of folded sheets comprising a receptacle for the single sheets, a feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for single sheets, a receptacle for folded sheets position-ed forwardly of said feed roll couple, the topmost folded sheet disposed in said receptacle being positioned below a portion of thecireumference of one .of :said feed rolls, means for adjusting the heights of said receptacle for sing-le' sheets and said receptacle 'f'or .folded sheets, means for adjusting the size of said receptacle for folded (sheets to the size of the folded sheet to be used in the-device, an additional feed roll couple po'sitioned forwardly of said receptacle for folded sheets, suction means located above said receptacle for single sheets, additional suction means located .above said receptacle for folded sheets, arm members adapted to raise said suction means simultaneously, said arm members being actuated by the same timing mechanism so that the movement of said suction means is adapted to carry one of the single sheets at a time over said first-named feed roll couple and simultaneously to raise one side of one of said folded sheets so that one of said single sheets is inserted between the fold of one of said folded sheets, further suction means adapted to convey said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets over said additional feed roll couple, an additional receptacle adapted to hold said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets positioned forwardly of said additional feed r011 couple, means driving said first-named feed roll couple and said additional feed roll couple, and means driving said suction means.

4. A device for inserting a number of single sheets into a number of folded sheets comprising a receptacle for the single sheets, a feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for single sheets, one of said feed rolls being provided with a circumferential groove, air blast means located within said groove in said feed roll, a receptacle for folded sheets positioned forwardly of said feed roll couple, the topmost folded sheet disposed in said receptacle being positioned below a portion of the circumference of one of said feed rolls, means for adjusting the heights of said receptacle for single sheets and said receptacle for folded sheets, an additional feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for folded sheets, suction means located above said receptacle for single sheets, additional suction ineans located above said receptacle, for folded sheets, arm members adapted to raise said suction means simultaneously, said arm members being actuated by the same timing mechanism so that the movement of said suction means is adapted to carry one of the single sheets at a time over said first-named feed roll couple and simultaneously to raise one side of one of said folded sheets so that one of said single sheets is inserted between the fold of one of said folded sheets, further suction means adapted to convey said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets over said additional feed roll couple, an additional receptacle adapted to hold said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets positioned forwardly of said additional feed roll couple, means driving said first-named feed roll couple and said additional feed roll couple, and means driving said suction means and air blast means.

5. A device for inserting a number of single sheets into a number of folded sheets comprising a receptacle for the single sheets, a number of singlesheets disposed within said receptacle, a feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for single sheets, one of said feed rolls being provided with a circumferential groove, air blast means located within said groove in said feed roll, a receptacle for folded sheets positioned forwardly of said feed roll couple, a number of folded sheets disposed within said receptacle, means for adjusting the height's'of said receptacle for single sheets and said receptacle for folded sheets so that the topmost sheet within the receptacle for single sheets will be at approximately the same level of the topmost sheet within the receptacle for folded sheets, and the topmost sheet within the receptacle for folded sheets will be positioned below a portion of the circumference of one of the feed rolls of said feed roll couple, an additional feed roll couple positioned forwardly of said receptacle for folded sheets, a plurality of suction feet located above said receptacle for single sheets, an additional plurality of suction feet located above said receptacle for folded sheets, arm members adapted to raise said suction feet simultaneously, said arm members being actuated by the same timing mechanism so that the movement of said suction means is adapted to carry one of the single sheets at a time over said first-named feed roll couple and simultaneously to raise one side of one of said folded sheets so that one of said single sheets is inserted between the folds of one of said folded sheets, further suction means adapted to convey said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets over said'additional feed roll couple, an additional receptacle adapted to hold said folded sheets after insertion of said single sheets positioned forwardly of said additional feed roll couple, means driving said first-named feed roll couple and said additional feed roll couple, and means driving said suction means and air blast means.

6. A device as described in claim 5 wherein the arm member actuatingthe suction feet located above said receptacle for single sheets travel upwardly and pivotally so that the suction feet travel both upwardly and forwardly.

HERMAN DAN N.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rockwell Oct. 2, 

